Car engines make an awful lot of noise, more in fact than you typically hear. So, when your car’s engine starts making some new and annoying noises you’re likely to notice. These engine knocks are signs that something isn’t quite right and West Omaha Auto Service has some suggestions about what might be going on under the hood.
The Wrong Fuel
There’s a reason that your car manufacturer recommends a specific octane level for your car. If you’re consistently using a lower octane level than the manufacturer recommends, you’re going to hear some sounds from your car’s engine. It’s worth it in the long run to use the gas that you should be using, because over time those engine knocks can lead to damage.
Incorrect Fuel to Air Mixture
Your car’s engine needs a specific mix of fuel and air in order to properly fire in the combustion chamber. Too light or too heavy on either and you end up with misfires, which sound to you like engine knocks. Too much misfiring can lead to engine damage, so it’s best to ensure that every system that feeds into the engine is working properly.
Spark Plug Issues
The third part of the combustion process requires spark. That comes from the car’s spark plugs and a number of things can go wrong there. If one or more spark plugs are bad or if the wiring is failing, that can cause problems. If the timing on the spark is off, you can also get knocks. These are precision timed situations that can easily get out of sync and cause you to hear engine knocks while your car is running.
A Bad Knock Sensor
There’s a tiny sensor in your car’s engine called the knock sensor. This sensor’s job is to detect knocks and transmit that information to your car’s onboard computer. When knocks are detected, the engine control module is able to do some things, like adjust the fuel to air mixture, to help eliminate the knock. But if that information isn’t available, the ECM can’t make those changes.
Don’t just put up with engine knocks. For one, they’re not fun to listen to, but more importantly they can do some serious damage in your car’s engine. Contact us today at West Omaha Auto Service in Omaha, NE so we can take a look for you. We can perform state of the art diagnostic testing to help determine every possible cause of your car’s engine knocks.